Big Walk is an online co-op game for two to 12 players. It supports crossplay across PS5, Switch 2, Windows, and Mac, but it does not offer public matchmaking. You need to organize the group before you start.

Choose the Host Before Anyone Plays

The host owns the campaign save. Big Walk saves progress automatically on that person's system or account, and the same host must open the session when the group returns. Other players cannot take ownership of that save through an official transfer option.

Pick someone with a reliable connection and a schedule that suits the group. If the host leaves, the session ends for everyone. Friends can join or leave during the journey, but the shared progress still belongs to the original host.

Two Big Walk characters sit together near a coastal station.
Choose a dependable host before your group begins its shared save. Image: House House / Panic.

Select the Right World Setting

When starting, the host chooses a two-player, three-player, or four-plus version of the world. Some puzzles and island details change to suit that group size. House House recommends treating the choice as the minimum number of people expected to stay for the session.

If four friends are starting but one may leave early, choose the three-player setting. The selection does not set a strict maximum, so a larger group can still join a world configured for fewer players.

How to Invite and Join Friends

Start the game, create or continue a hosted session, and open the active games or friends area. Platform friends should appear when their sessions are available. For cross-platform groups, non-friends, or Mac App Store players, use a Join Code.

The host receives a short code when the session starts. It remains available under Session Details. Send that code directly to the people joining, then have them enter it from the join menu. The host can also change the session password from Session Details.

Four Big Walk characters gather near the coast with communication equipment.
Friends can join through supported friends lists or a session Join Code. Image: House House / Panic.

Crossplay and Online Requirements

Crossplay is officially supported between PS5, Switch 2, Windows, and Mac. PS5 players need an active PlayStation Plus membership for online play. Switch 2 players need Nintendo Switch Online. PC and Mac players do not need a separate console-style subscription.

There is no PS4 or Xbox version, and House House says no other platforms are currently planned. Big Walk also has no local split-screen mode. People in the same home need separate supported devices and should play in separate rooms when possible, since hearing each other outside the game can bypass communication puzzles.

Can People Join or Leave Later?

Players can drop into an active session with the host's code and leave before the group stops. The host should choose a world setting that the remaining group can still handle. If too many players leave for the selected setup, save and return with a lower group-size setting rather than forcing the remaining players through unsuitable challenges.

You do not have to finish the game in one sitting. The host can save and quit, then continue later. The returning roster can change, but the host cannot if the group wants the same progress.

When a Friend's Session Does Not Appear

First, confirm both games are updated and that the host has fully entered a session. If the friend list still does not show the game, use a Join Code. Mac App Store players must use the code because the platform friend list is not available there.

For crossplay problems, compare game versions and restart after installing any update. Also check the host's connection. A slow or unstable host can cause movement jitter and voice dropouts for the whole group.

Quick Answers

Once the group is connected, use our Big Walk beginner guide for the first session, accessibility settings, and spoiler-free direction.